Catch for latch-bolts



(No Model?) M. HENRY.

CATCH FOR LATCH BOLTS. v N0.-265-,925. Patented Oct. 10, 1882.

Fig. 1.

WITNESSES.

N. PETERS, Pi volo-UIMHM QL wan-mum 0.4;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN M. HENRY, or LADOGA, INDIANA.

CATCH FOR LATCH-BOLTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,925, dated October10, 1882,

Application filed February 28, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN M. HENRY, of the town of Ladoga, county ofMontgomery, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in (latches for Latch-Bolts, of which the following is aspecification.

My said invention consists of certain improvements in the constructionand arrangement of parts of that class of latches the bolts of which areretained within the casing by a spring-catch until the door is shut,when said catch is disengaged by the contact of a projection thereonwith the latch-strike or door-casing, permitting the latch-bolt to flyforward and latch the door. I am aware that this result has before beenaccomplished, but by more expensive and less reliable means. I do nottherefore desire to be understood as claiming all forms of mechanism forthe purpose, but only those which are hereinafter particularly describedand claimed as new.

In the example shown the latch-bolt is an ordinary reciprocating bolt ofa kind common in ordinary door-locks, (in connection with one of whichthis invention is illustrated,) and the spring is an ordinary flatspring secured inside the lock alongside the latch-bolt, in suchrelation that a projection thereon will engage with a notch in the boltwhen the latter is forced back and the former is in normal position. Acontinuation of the same spring passes through a slot in the latch-plateby the side of the bolt, and is so adjusted as to come against thestrike immediately after the bolt has passed it, whereby the projectionon the spring is pushed out of the notch in the bolt, thus letting thebolt pass out to secure the door.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure1 is a horizontal section of a doorlock, the lock-strike, and so much ofthe door and door-casing as form a support for the same, on the dottedline 2 2; Fig. 2, a plan view of the look, so much of the top platebeing broken away as to show the latch-bolt and spring, and said boltbeing held back by said'spring; Fig. 3, a front elevation of the lockwhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4', a viewsimilar to the upper portion of Fig. 2, except that the latch-bolt isreleased from the spring and projects from the front edge of the lOlk.Fig. 5 bears the same relation to Fig. 4 that Fig. 3 does to Fig. 2, andFig. 6 is a detail cross-section ofthe latch and spring on the dottedline g 11 In said drawings, the portions marked A represent thedoor-casing; B, the door O, the lock-casing; D, the lock-strike; E, thelatchbolt, and F the spring, which, or its equivalent, forms theessential feature of my invention.

The door-casing A, door B, lock-casing O, and strike D are or may be ofany ordinary or approved form, and need no special description.

The latch-bolt E is or may be in itself the ordinary latch-bolt commonto most forms of door-locks, and is commonly actuated by a spring withinthe lock to assume and remain in the position shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5when not forcibly pressed back. When forced back by any means (as by theturning of the door-handle) it assumes the position shown in Figs. 2 and3, and is so held by the detentf on the spring F, which enters the notche, and there remains until forcibly moved from its position by the endfthereof coming in contact with the lock-strike D as the door is closed.

The spring F is a flat spring rigidly.secured at its rear end by asclgewgf to the inside of the lock. It is provided at the proper pointwith the projection f, which is adapted to engage with the notch e inthe latch-bolt, and thus hold said bolt in the position shown in Figs. 2and 3. When this springis pressed sidewise it throws the projection fontof the notch e and permits the latch-bolt to move forward, it beingimpelled by the spring in the look by which this movement is ordinarilysecured.

The operation of my said invention may be recapitulated as follows: Thedoor being latched in the ordinary manner, it is opened by turnin g theknob,which throws the latch-bolt back, when the projection on the springcatches in the notch in said latch-bolt and holds said bolt back insidethe lock-casing until such engagement is displaced. Vhen the door isshut the arrangementis such that the latch-bolt first passes the outercasing of the strike D, so as to be enabled to catch thereunder. Theprojection f on the spring F then comes in contact with the outside ofsaid strike, throwing the projection f out of the notch c and allowing 2comics the bolt E to move forward and engage with said strike and holdthe door closed in the usual manner. I

It will be readily seen that by this means all the noise, friction, andWear incident to the contact of the latch-bolt and latch-strike ascommonly used, and the consequent loosening and breakage of parts, areavoided.

It Will also be seen, especially by an examination of Fig. 1, that thelatch-bolt and the spring clamp the edge d of the strike D firmlybetween them, and thus secure thcdoor against shaking and rattling,notwithstanding that it may be loosely fitted.

Having thus fully dcscribedmy said invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The combination, with the boltE, having notch c in its side, of the straight flat spring-F, arrangedalongside said bolt, and provided with the lateral projection f, whichis adapted to enter the notch e, and a turned-up portion orprojection,f, onits front end, which is adapted to come in contact withthe strike on the doorcasing, all substantially as shown and described,and for the purposes specified.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and. seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 24th day of February, A. D. 1882.

MARTIN M. HENRY. [L. s]

